TEN QUESTIONS WITH...

What did it mean to qualify for this upcoming weekend’s NCAA Championships and what experiences can you draw from to help prepare yourself?
I’m really not putting too much emphasis on it or treating it that differently from any other competition. It just means I get to wrestle more during the season. I don’t worry about that type of stuff too much. I’m just going to go out there and do the best I can.

How much does it help in the long run to wrestle at a very strong weight class within the Mid-American Conference?
It is definitely a benefit to wrestle in a strong conference – especially within the 157-pound weight class. As far as competition goes though, every match at the collegiate level is tough. It doesn’t matter what conference someone is from, you have to be prepared to wrestle everyone.

How is a berth into the NCAA Championships earned?
At the MAC Championships, the champion at each of the 10 weight classes automatically advances to the NCAA Championships. This year within the MAC, there were eight additional wild-card spots left. The coaches get together after the tournament and pick the guys that they think have the best chances to become All-Americans.

What was it like waiting around to find out whether or not you qualified?
I was pretty confident that I would get in, in particular due to the strength of the weight class I wrestled at. Three wrestlers came out of 157 pounds last year, so I knew I had a pretty good chance to be selected.

How would you assess your season up to this point?
I didn’t go undefeated, so I am not happy with it. It’s a very simple response, but that really is my mindset.

Why do you think you closed out the season with so much success?
I had ups and downs throughout the whole season, but I am thankful that I did come on stronger at the end. I think that the more matches you wrestle, the more confident you become. Our coaches are unbelievable and do a great job preparing us – they have a lot to do with it, as well.

How much have you changed as a wrestler during your time at UB?
I definitely am a different wrestler now. Your first year of college you are just a kid. After that, you grow and develop into a more mature wrestler. Being in the wrestling room at a Division One program creates a very high set of standards, which forces you to pick it up.

Did redshirting last season help in that process?
The redshirt year was just a break for me, mentally. I’ve been wrestling for a long time, so it was different without that competitive aspect for one season. It helped in the sense that it took a lot of pressure off. But I certainly was hungry to get back in the lineup after sitting out a season.

Is the preparation for the NCAA Championships that much different than for any other tournament?
The coaching staff does a great job preparing us for certain events. We definitely lightened up the schedule a little bit this week. The intensity is still at an incredible level, though – you’re focusing on winning a very big match.

Do you feel that there is general fatigue that sets in this late in the season?
Maybe a little bit, but you still go out and want to wrestle your best in every match. A lot of it is a mental thing. I feel I have an upper hand, because I feel fresh for every match I enter. I want to be out there – you have to put anything else in the back of your mind.

-The ‘10 Questions with…’ feature is compiled by Geoff Nason.